Get to Know the Wisconsin Public Education Network Team

Regional and statewide organizers help Wisconsin Public Education Network dive deep into local actions with educators, families, community members, and advocates in every corner of Wisconsin.

Have a general question for our team? Email us here.

Executive Director:
Heather DuBois Bourenane

Image credit to Joe Brusky.

Heather DuBois Bourenane is passionate about ensuring our public schools are places of joy for all students. She is a proud public school parent, a founding member of Support Sun Prairie Schools and the Sun Prairie Action Resource Coalition, and co-director of the SPARC Local Action Fund 501(c)(3). She taught college English and literature and worked in K-12 outreach at UW-Madison before becoming the Executive Director of Wisconsin Public Education Network. She’s been an active partner in the Network since 2011 and joined the staff in 2013.

Contact Heather at hdb@WisconsinNetwork.org to get in touch with the Network!

Director of Digital Organizing & Communications:
Christian Phelps

Christian Phelps is Wisconsin Public Education Network’s director of digital organizing and communications, helping broaden and deepen partnerships across the state through both relational and digital organizing strategies. He joined the Network in 2020 and had previously worked in public education and multimedia journalism.

Want to get in touch? Contact Christian!

Digital Organizer & Communications Assistant:
Tessa Maglio

Tessa Maglio joined the Wisconsin Public Education Network team in fall 2022, increasing capacity to organize Network partners’ digital actions, communications, and creative projects. She brings classroom experience as a former public school teacher.

Northwest Regional Organizer:
Chris Hambuch-Boyle

Chris Hambuch-Boyle works to organize throughout the northwest, from La Crosse to Wausau to Superior and beyond. Chris is a retired speech and language pathologist, early childhood special education teacher, a former president of the Eau Claire Area Board of Education, and a lifelong public education advocate.

Want to get in touch? Contact Chris!

Northeast Regional Organizer:
Denise Gaumer Hutchison

Denise Gaumer-Hutchison, NE Regional Organizer

Denise Gaumer Hutchison brings a breadth of experience in both professional and volunteer organizing in public education to the Network. She organizes local level action for statewide impact in Northeastern Wisconsin, from Oshkosh, Appleton, and Green Bay to the far northeast, and everything in between, and serves in a fundraising and development role.

Want to get in touch? Contact Denise!

Legislative Policy Lead:
Bryn Horton

Bryn Horton joined the Wisconsin Public Education Network team in fall 2022, strengthening the Network’s capacity for legislative tracking and advocacy. Bryn is a current school board member and public schools advocate.

Southeast Regional Organizer:
Jenni Hofschulte

Jenni Hofschulte, SE Regional Organizer

Jenni Hofschulte is the regional organizer for the Greater Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha metropolitan areas, and throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. She is a well-connected advocate in the area through the Parents for Public Schools-Milwaukee, Schools and Communities United, and Milwaukee Public Schools.

Want to get in touch? Contact Jenni!